Native Dancer

NATIVE DANCER was Shorter's first collaboration with Brazilian superstar Milton Nascimento, and helped introduce Nascimento to American audiences.
Personnel: Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor saxophones); Milton Nascimento (vocals); Herbie Hancock, Airto Moreira, Dave McDaniel, Roberto Silva, Wagner Tiso, Jay Graydon, Dave Amaro.
Recorded at Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California on September 12, 1974. Includes liner notes by Bill Milkowski.
Digitally remastered by Debra Parkinson (CBS Records Studio, New York).
This is part of the Columbia Contemporary Jazz Masters series.
This album is a rare gem. A lush Brazilian-jazz hybrid, it was released in the midst of Wayne Shorter's tenure with Weather Report, after an astounding run of inventive post-bop releases for the Blue Note label in the '60s. Five of the nine tracks were written by Milton Nascimento, and NATIVE DANCER's success on its release in 1975 served to introduce this fine Brazilian singer/composer to an American audience.
The aptness of the pairing of these two musicians is readily apparent on a tune such as "Tarde," where Nascimento's vocal phrasing mirrors Shorter's saxophone. The ensemble is equally inspired, with Herbie Hancock as adept at the propulsive funkiness of "Beauty and the Beast" as the luxurious reveries of "Miracle of the Fishes." One of several essential titles by Wayne Shorter, NATIVE DANCER offers constant and layered delights from start to finish.